Tourniquet



Sept. 11, 1951 COHEN 2,567,182

TOURNIQUET Fled 0012. '7, 1949 INVENTOK.

b lQ/avui (943570? BY firm/40w Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED *s AT sPATENT OFFICE TOURNIQUET 4 David Cohen, NewYork, N. Y.',' assignor toSafety Tourniquet, Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork I Application October 7, 1949, Serial No. 120,100

My invention relates to physicians and surgeons clamp tourniquets, andcomprehends improvements in the structures embodied in the patents toHarry Cohen, No. 1,957,992, dated May 8, 1934, and Reissue No. 19,924,dated April 14, 1936.

In practical experience it has been found that the eyes 6 and I of thesepaten-ts-'designed for the insertion of the fingers of the operator-aremore of a hindrancethan a. matter of utility. They are in the way andoften confuse the operatorespecially the inexperienced-.causing ,him tounintentionally jab the limb of the. patient with the outer ends of thelimb-embracing elements before the latter are fully extended.

These disadvantages are'overcom'e by eliminating the eyes altogetherand, instead, providing straight handle or shank portionsdevoid of anyjutting impedimenta, in fact, even the means for adjusting thelimb-embracing elements in diverse positions, and which includes anarcuate extension is disposed remotely from the inner endsof the handlesso as to permit an unobstructed and quick grasp of the handles.

Further, the ratchet teeth I3 of the arcuate plates I2, and the wormwheel I4 of Patent No. 1,957,992 are objectionable in that they confrontthe operator and after considerable use, the edges of the teeth and wormwheel-due to friction, become relatively sharp and jagged and tend tocut the ends of the fingersunless the operator is exceedingly careful.

In my invention, the teeth of the arcuate plate are on the outside edge,and no worm wheel is employed, thus reducing to a minimum the chances ofinjuring ones fingers.

Moreover, due to the manner in which the invention has been simplified,it is manifest that quantity production, at reduced cost, is assured.

To the accomplishment of the recited objects, and others, subordinatethereto, the preferred embodiment of my invention resides in the con-' jy 2 o1 iins., (Cl. 128-327) 2 prise curved gripping elements 89 andstraight handles I0-'I'I. 'At a point just below the hinge I onehandleprovided with a recess I2 termina'ting short o'fthe outer wall thereofand the other handle is formed with a slot I3 which extends" clearthrough. Recess I2 receives the rebated extension-Mfof the arcuate plateI5 which ispivoted thereinby cross pin I6. In this connectio'nQ-itwillbe noted that the outer terminal of' the'ratchet and the pivotalpoint I of membrs"-5+6 -'-see Fig. '3are in substantially the same planeand located at a point considerably removed from the outer ends of thehandles. A flatspring I! is fastened to the inner edge of handle IIby'means of screw I8 and its upper free endis bifurcated at I9 50 as tospan extension I4 and press against shoulder 20.

Slot" I3 extends clear through handle I0 and its ceiling 20 is bevelledto function as a pawl for engagement with serrations 2I disposed on theinner edge of plate I5. This plate, on its outer end, carries athumbpiece 22 which is used for disengaging the serrations 2| and pawl20.

In practice, thumbpiece 22 is depressed against the action of spring I!to release teeth 2I from engagement with pawl 20 and permit the grippingelements 89 to be suitably spread apart so as to embrace the particularlimb. Handles I0-II are then constrained towards each other until thedesired constriction of the limb is obtamed-the pawl riding over theserrations and automatically locking against reverse movement when thepoint of maximum constriction has been reached.

It will thus be seen that providing rectilinear handles in lieu ofhandles equipped with fingereyes eliminates the likelihood of theoperator becoming confused with respect to the precise func-. tion ofthe finger-eyes. Then, too, the fact that the adjusting mechanism islocated at a relatively remote pointthe outer ends of the handles-givesthe operator a clear sweep in the manipulation of the instrument andinsures against the possibility of ones cutting the finger tips withsharp teeth and the jagged edges of a worm wheel-it being borne in mindthat in the present instance the teeth face outwardly and do not requirethe cooperation of any ancillary adjusting device.

In its broader aspects my invention comprises not only the various meansdescribed but equivalent means for performing the recited functions. Itis desired to reserve the right to effect such modifications andvariations. as may come fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A physicians and surgeons clamp tourni- 'quet including complementarymembers hinged "together, aid members comprising curved limbgrippingelements and straight handle portions "for operating thegrippingfelements, the inner terminal .oflonfe handle. havingg a slotextending ,therethrough, the innerl terminal i of th e other l handlehaving a recess in substantial, alignment with the slot, an arcuateratchet "having at fend a rebated extension'and a shoulder, the en'-ltension being pivoted within the recess elf-one jl'iandl'e, a "singlespring fixed. :te {the inside edge fof thela'tter handle and haying itsopposite tree T terminal bifurcated and straddling the extension andengaging the shoulder, and the other end "of the ratchet passingthrough-the-"slotor the other handle and engageable with the inner wallthereof for locking the elements in a variety of positions, H v 2. A'physicians and: surgeons' clamp .to1irni. quet including crossedcomplementary members hinged attheir point of crossing, said memberscomprisingcurved limb gripping elements none side ofthe pivot pointandStraight hana1e me i bers at the other .sideof the pivot point thehandle. members causing .the limb encircling members .to approach eachother. whenvthe handles are brought-together, the limb encirclingmembers being ofiset with respect to each fothe'r, oneof the handle.membershaving a slot therein adjacent. the .pivot pogint with theebp'erpnt of the slot being formed into a pawl In'emberon the outer wallof the handlemember, theother and e membr tha i' was i th ein nbestantially in alignmentwiththe slot in the other handle, an arcuateratchet bar having upwardly 4 extending ratchet teeth on the portionadjacent the pivot point adapted to engage the pawl, one end of thearcuate ratchet bar having a rebated extension formed thereon which ispivotally mounted in the reces of said other handle mem-- her, and ashoulder formed by the rebated portion on the side of theratchet baropposite to ,theto6thed side,;a leatsprin'g hired to the handle memberbelow the recess and extending substantially parallel with the handlefor a greater portion of its length and then outwardly from the handleforming a free end having a bifurcation therein, thebifurcationstraddling the rebated nortion -of the ratchet bar and the Web below thebifurcation engaging the shoulder of the ratchet bar and normally urgingthe ratchet bar upwardlya'sopthattheteeth of the ratchet bar are forcedinto engagement with the pawl when the handle members are moved toadjust the limbencircling members, the limb-encircling members beingthiis locked in the adjusted position.

} DAVID COHEN.

v REFERENCES CITED The following'reference's are of record in the fileof this patent: I

UN'ITEn s'rATEs PATENTS Number J. g g

5,...Na'me 54,285 Collins Apr. 30, 1867 127,212 lAylworth May 28, 18721,256,208 Cummins Feb. 12, 1918 1,506,032 Stevens Aug; 26, 19242,427,128 Ettii i'ger Sept. 9, 1947 PATENTS l Number .Country Date 7748,047 France Apr. 10, 1933

